Sad news that cyclingâ€™s Chuck Norris Jens Voigt, along with up-and-coming Dane Matti Breschel have announced that they will be leaving Team Saxo Bank at the end of this season.

It was already known that Andy and Frank Schleck would be quitting the team to join an as-yet-unannounced Luxembourg-based squad, and Jakob Fuglsang and Stewart Oâ€™Grady subsequently announced their departure - and are expected to join the brothers. Voigt, too, may follow, though Matti Breschelâ€™s destination is less clear.

I dont think its about liking Jens or not, its just that they are both cult figures. I dont think actually liking the person has much to do with it.

The bearded one its his bad acting and anti-cool persona that gives him his cult status.....the fact that his IS actually a talented martial artist[well, in his day at least] is only a small part of it.

Same with Jens, its his qwerky statements and the fact he allways looks like hes dying on the bike. Of course he happens to be more than competitive as a rider but obviously thats not the reason for his elevated profile.

Thats my take on it anyway, I like them both mostly because they are different units In the same way I like Akermanis, I just cant stand those boring, cardboard cutout....one week at a time sports people

Baldy wrote:I dont think its about liking Jens or not, its just that they are both cult figures. I dont think actually liking the person has much to do with it.

The bearded one its his bad acting and anti-cool persona that gives him his cult status.....the fact that his IS actually a talented martial artist[well, in his day at least] is only a small part of it.

Same with Jens, its his qwerky statements and the fact he allways looks like hes dying on the bike. Of course he happens to be more than competitive as a rider but obviously thats not the reason for his elevated profile.

Thats my take on it anyway, I like them both mostly because they are different units In the same way I like Akermanis, I just cant stand those boring, cardboard cutout....one week at a time sports people

I would say the difference in the cult status is that you laugh at Chuck Norris but laugh with Jens Voigt.

That being said, Chuck Norris is pretty amazing - he did fight Bruce Lee in the Coliseum and when I last looked, Jens didn't (Way of the Dragon, 1972) though his most well known feature films (Missing in Action 1 and 2) among others confirmed that he was a more skillful fighter than actor - the combination of his skill, personality, long term publicity and Walker Series re-cemented him as a cult icon.

I wouldn't rate Warick Capper as a contender - though Vin Diesel and David Hasslehof share cult status - The Hof has done quite well accepting his status and playing along. William Shatner could have had cult status, like Norris, however his personality let him down.

Thinking about great cyclists - I wasn't around in the days to know much about the pre 90s legends. In modern times however Lance has more tour victories however Voigt is the bigger legend.

Jens may not be a bigger legend. Mention his name to anyone that isn't into cycling and most probably they will say "jens who?". Lance is probably the grandfather of cycling for our generation, thanks to his tour victories, his mouth and laf. But for jens, it is his affection for the sport and humour that makes him one of the favourite rider of viewers and the peloton.

You have to admit though, there is some level of urine extraction when people talk about Jens. Not all the time and obviously not as much as Norris, Capper, the Hoff and Co but its still there. The whole fwankie is my bestest fwiend is a good example

But your right, Jens is the nutcase mate you can laugh your arse off with and also take the mickey out of. I'd be very surprised if he didnt cop exactly that from Stuart O'Grady